KOROR, Palau - During this year’s global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the Government of the Republic of Palau took a major step toward eliminating GBV in the country by endorsing the Amended Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that specifies more in detail the inter-ministerial division of labour in tackling GBV through implementing the Family Protection Act.

According to the 2014 Palau Family Health Survey, one out of every four women and girls in Palau (25.2%) reported experiencing sexual and/or physical violence in their lifetime committed by her intimate partner. Against this backdrop, an amended inter-ministerial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was endorsed during a high-level inter-sectoral forum that the Office of the Vice President convened on 6 December in the capital city, with the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Ministry of Justice, Police, Ministry of Education, Members of the Parliament, a Governor, cultural and religious leaders, as well as Civil Society Organizations, under the theme of “Uniting in strength, agencies stand as one, recommitting to break the chains of silence and end gender-based violence – for a Belau where equality reigns and justice prevails.” More than 90 people participated in the meeting, which was supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pacific, with funding from the European Union - UN Spotlight Initiative.

Leading up towards this high-level inter-ministerial meeting, UNFPA Pacific supported Palau’s efforts at accelerating its response to GBV through a series of trainings for service providers - in November UNFPA organized training for a total of 21 clinicians, nurses and case managers on the health sector response to GBV.  Also, UNFPA conducted an induction training on violence against women data collection and analysis, for eight front-line workers, including statisticians, health workers, police, judiciary, as well civil society representatives.

In addition, UNFPA has been procuring equipment necessary for the work of various government offices which are implementing the Palau Family Protection Act, and during the high-level forum on 6 December, UNFPA Pacific Director Iori Kato handed over some of these donations to the Government of Palau, including file cabinets and 26 tablets (worth more than USD 10,000) to support the Palau Bureau of Statistics, law enforcement officers, and health workers who are the first responders to GBV cases, to ensure safe storage of GBV case files and evidence as an essential step toward maintaining the integrity of legal cases and ensuring that justice is served for GBV survivors.  Beside these, UNFPA will be also donating bio-fridge, cameras, sexual assault evidence collection kits, and colposcopes, etc. in 2024.

“GBV cannot be solved by any one sector or one ministry.  And that is why this high-level commitment towards the whole-of-the-nation approach to eliminating GBV led by Hon. Vice President and Minister of Justice along with the Palau Family Protection Act Working Group, is admirable,” UNFPA Pacific Director Kato said, adding “I am glad that UNFPA has been able to join hands with the Government of Palau to ‘walk-the-talk,’” while handing over the equipment.

“The complexity of gender-based violence extends beyond legislation; cultures of secrecy, issues of trust, and challenges related to cultural ties must be addressed” said Hon. Vice President and Minister of Justice in Palau, Ms Uduch Sengebau Senior.

“Palau remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving the SDGs, with a particular focus on SDG Goal 5 – responding to violence against women and girls. Today's dialogue reinforces our dedication to creating a safer, more just society for all. Together, we will continue our journey toward a future free from gender-based violence.”

“UNFPA’s GBV Training was an eye opener,” says Ms Ki-shea N. Liep, a Nurse at the ER (Emergency Room) of Belau National Hospital. “It enhanced and sharpened my skills in approaching and communicating with survivors in the ER. ‘Mesulang’ (thank you) for this great opportunity and I look forward also to  the SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) for GBV Response in the Health Sector to be updated so that we can further improve our collective response to GBV cases.”

During his first visit to Palau, UNFPA Pacific Director Kato paid a courtesy visit to Hon. State Minister Mr. Gustav N. Aitaro, and presented a letter from the UNFPA Executive Director to H.E. President Mr. Surangel Whipps Jr. introducing him to the Government of Palau. Director Kato and his UNFPA team also had a series of consultations including with Hon. Minister of Education Dr. Dale Jenkins, as well as Ministry of Health and Human Services officials at Belau National Hospital, representatives of CSO/NGOs and youth groups in Palau. He also visited the resident development partners including the embassies of Australia, Japan and U.S.A.  Director Kato undertook a boat trip to Peleliu Island with Hon. Vice President and Minister of Justice, and visited the Southern Community Health Center on the island as well.

Hon. Vice President and Minister of Justice, Ms Uduch Sengebau Senior underscored the importance of multi-sectoral response to GBV.

At Belau National Hospital in Koror, Skylynn Ifelbuch (left), a nurse at the Obstetric-Gynecology Ward, and Ki-shea N. Leip, a nurse at the Emergency Room, sharing lessons learnt  from a UNFPA training on the health sector response to GBV.